Emergency Information

Emergency Procedures

What is a critical incident or emergency?

A critical incident, or emergency, is defined as a sudden, unforeseen occurrence of a serious and urgent nature that requires immediate action to protect lives and/or property associated with Capital University. It has the potential to cause significant injury or death, or to shut down the university, disrupt operations, cause physical or environmental damage, or threaten Capital's reputation or financial standing.

How will the University respond?

It's impossible to anticipate every critical incident or emergency that can occur on a college campus. So we have developed protocols that represent, in some detail, emergencies that might arise and steps that students, faculty or staff should take in encountering and/or reporting a critical incident.

It's important to remember that in real situations, the actual circumstances — the nature, scope and duration of the incident — will determine the appropriate response. It is also important to note that each protocol is designed with two goals in mind:

1. To ensure the health, safety and security of the campus community
2. To minimize damage to university property

Since emergencies don't always abide by normal business hours, it is understood that the Department of Public Safety and/or Facilities Management will make every attempt to contact the resources and assets necessary to mitigate an emergency or critical incident.

Important Phone Numbers

• Emergency On Campus: 614-236-6666 
• University Public Safety (8 am to 4 pm): 614-236-6504 
• Emergency Off Campus: 911 
• Information Desk: 6011 
• Outside Operator: 9-0 
• Facilities Management (Power Plant): 614-236-6400 
• Center for Health and Wellness: 614-236-6114 
• Rape Crisis Center: 614-267-7020 
• Suicide Prevention Service: 614-221-5445 

Communication Tools

Capital University has several tools for communicating official university information. During a critical incident, the University will use the following tools as its primary means of communicating official university information:

• Capital website — www.capital.edu — this page — www.capital.edu/emergency — and the Campus Safety Bulletin — www.capital.edu/safety-bulletin. 

• CapAlert, an emergency notification system that will notify you of an emergency on campus by sending a text message to your Short Message Service Device (Ex: cell phone, pager, Blackberry, etc.) and/or email account. Read more about Capital Alert.  

• Big Voice, a commercial public address system will be installed on one or more campus buildings. This system will allow the broadcast of prerecorded or live messages, announcements, and etc. The system is designed to be clearly heard throughout the campus grounds. 

Local Media

The University also will rely on local media to deliver the latest information about an emergency or a change in the status of campus operations to the public. Stay tuned to the following local media:

TV

• NBC 4 
• ABC 6/FOX 28 
• WBNS 10 TV 
• Ohio News Now (ONN) 

Radio

• WBNS AM 1460 and FM 97.1 
• WSNY FM 94.7 
• WODB FM 107.9 
• WJZA FM 103.5/104.3 
• WJZK, WTVN AM 610 
• WNCI FM 97.9 
• WCOL AM 1230 and FM 92.3 
• WFJX FM 105.7 and WLZT FM 93.3 

CapAlert

CapAlert is a free service for all Capital University faculty, staff and students, but normal text messaging fees may apply, depending on your cell phone service agreement. Vision- and hearing-impaired individuals may request text-to-speech service to a cell or TTY capabilities by contacting the Office of Disability Services.

To receive emergency text messages from Capital Alert, you must update your profile on myCap. You will be provided with the option to add up to four additional email addresses or communication devices to be notified in case of an emergency.

This system is only effective if it has accurate contact information, which is why it is very important that you provide the appropriate information and update it regularly. You can even add your parent's our spouse's cell phone or email in addition to yours. The CapAlert system will be updated once every day, therefore, any changes made to your profile will not be reflected for at least 24 hours.

The University will use the system only in high-level emergencies, and your personal information will remain absolutely private. If you have any trouble accessing or updating your profile in the Capital Alert System, please contact Information Technology, or send an email to capitalalert@capital.edu. Please include your first and last name; your contact information; and a brief detailed description of your problem. Someone will contact you promptly.